[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 23147]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 23147]]

         HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES--Wednesday, November 28, 2001

  The House met at 10 a.m.
  The Chaplain, the Reverend Daniel P. Coughlin, offered the following 
prayer:
  Lord God of Heaven and Earth, through the stories of the ancient 
Scriptures You bring us to faith and renew us in hope. May Your word 
live in the hearts of the Members of this House and Your spirit guide 
them in their journey of service to Your people.
  The ancient story of the tower of Babel describes the origin of 
diverse languages in the human family. It is from You, another 
illustration of the refusal to accept human limitations. Yet out of 
this context of diversity and confusion, You call Your servant Abraham 
to be the father of faith in You as the one, true living God.
  Help us in our day to embrace not only our limitations but also our 
diversity. Let us not be as those who build for themselves a tower or 
city only to make a name for themselves. Rather, shape us by our 
differences to be one Nation under God who has a message You scatter to 
people all over the face of the Earth. Seeking to live beyond words, 
enable us to accept all human diversity, even the more subtle 
differences of perception and opinion. In such loving acceptance we 
give You glory now and forever. Amen.

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